People in the Alliance, Time Management Master

Mu Bai patted the girl's head again, then carefully sensed the flow of magic power within her body.

LeBlanc didn't cause her too much serious damage, but she did lose a lot of magic power—the 20% of magic power she had managed to recover was depleted again.

"Drink some magic potion; your magic power is severely overloaded."

"Mmm." Syndra nodded obediently.

Mu Bai pinched the girl's soft cheek one last time, then took out the blue medicine from the bag.

This time, he didn't dilute it with water; instead, he handed over the entire bottle of medicine.

Syndra took the blue potion and poured it down her throat without hesitation, finishing off the 500-600 milliliters of viscous liquid in just a few seconds.

"Ugh...it's so bitter..."

"Because this medicine is quite concentrated..." Mu Bai scratched his head apologetically, "I forgot to prepare candy, sorry..."

"Don't apologize for something like this."

Syndra crawled out of bed, her eyes filled with love and laughter that almost seemed to solidify.

"Besides, isn't the candy right here?"

"Ok?"

Before Mu Bai could figure out the meaning of "sugar," the girl had already pressed her sweet and soft lips against his.

Half a minute later, Syndra released her embrace, her slightly flushed cheeks showing a hint of playfulness.

She pursed her lips, still savoring the moment, and smiled:

"You are my candy."

Chapter Thirty-One: The Girl, the Greatsword, and Atonement

In the early days, dungeons did not exist in Ionia. People believed that it was too cruel and inhumane. Sinners who broke the law should be corrected and redeemed, rather than simply punished, in order to achieve balance.

It wasn't until the Noxians launched a massive invasion of the First Lands that people realized that even balance has its limitations.

Proverbs are of no use to wicked invaders; only swords and force can protect this sacred land.

Thus, Ionia's first dungeon was built in the province of Navori.

This dark and gloomy cell was specifically used to imprison war criminals. The conditions were not extremely harsh, but they were definitely a form of torture for both the mind and the body.

The prisoners locked up here won't starve to death, but they'll never be full; they won't freeze to death, but they won't feel any warmth; they won't die from exhaustion, but they won't have any chance to catch their breath.

Only by applying the principle of balance to punishment will those damned aggressors realize just how despicable their crimes are.

The deep water dungeons of Presidium are forever filled with wails and delirium, from morning till night, from spring to winter.

All the prisoners held here gradually lose their minds in the endless darkness and cold, and only when they are on the verge of collapse will they have the opportunity to be taken out for labor reform.

No one could endure this torment, except for the girl who had remained silent since entering—Riven.

Her strong will was one factor, but the main reason was that she had given up hope.

The sins and betrayals of her homeland shattered her faith, and the glory of the swordswoman was gone. She exiled herself.

“Hey, Mr. Mu Bai wants to see you. Cheer up, don’t look like a dead man… You’ll have plenty of opportunities to die later.”

A voice filled with disdain and anger rang out. Riven slightly raised her head, looking through her matted hair at the cell door.

Because the lighting was too dim, she couldn't see the faces of the two people outside the water prison, but she recognized one of their figures.

The man who advised himself not to run away from his mistakes.

"Your name is Mu Bai...?" Riven asked weakly.

"Hey, hey, hey, nobody asked you to ask questions!" The jailer banged on the iron door, the loud noise making our eardrums ache. "Know your place and show some respect!"

"It's alright, you go ahead and do your work, I can handle it myself." Mu Bai waved his hand in time to stop the jailer's angry outburst.

The latter nodded quickly, glared fiercely at Riven, and then left with his longsword.

"Your name is Mu Bai?" Riven asked again.

“Yes,” Mu Bai replied.

"Where is your lover, that pretty girl named Celeste?"

"In remembrance of the dead—a tailor murdered by the Pale Lady."

What brings you here?

"I want to help you atone for your sins."

The atmosphere became somewhat strange. Even though Riven was the one being held prisoner, she kept asking questions like a victor on high, and the other party answered without hesitation, showing no sign of annoyance.

"Atonement..."

Riven gave a bitter smile and subconsciously tried to move her body, but the icy water that reached her waist and the iron chains binding her limbs made her unable to move.

"Do you want me to go to a labor camp or do you want my life?" She gave a miserable smile. "If my body is still of any use, you can take it."

"Your body..."

Mu Bai nodded thoughtfully, looking at the other person's body without any hesitation.

Like Syndra, she had thick silver hair, but shorter, just past her shoulders. Her figure was more graceful and toned than that of an average girl, and her well-defined, perfectly proportioned muscles gave her an unusual beauty.

Her shoulder pads and metal hairpins were confiscated, and her silver hair, sticky with straw and water droplets, fell messily onto her face, obscuring one of her beautiful, now dull, red eyes.

Listless and lifeless.

"What, do you find my body too filthy and wretched?" Riven felt the scrutinizing gaze and laughed, "You're right. This broken body has no value; its only purpose is to be sent to the gallows."

“You’re trying to evade your mistakes again,” Mu Bai said calmly, looking at her.

"Run away? Isn't it enough that I've given you my life?"

"That's enough. But that can't maintain the balance of the world."

"balanced?"

“Yes, balance.” Mu Bai quoted a valuable part of the theory of balance, “Although sentencing to death is easy, the death penalty cannot undo the damage that crimes have caused to the people.”

"Then what do you want me to do?"

Riven's emotions fluctuated slightly—perhaps anger, or perhaps pain. She fidgeted restlessly, pulling the four chains with a clanging sound.

"What else can I do? Killing me won't satisfy you, nor will labor. Tell me, what else can I do?"

Mu Bai didn't respond, simply waiting for the other person to vent their resentment. After a few minutes, he spoke in a gentle tone:

"I hope you can come back to life. Only when you recognize and accept your mistakes will making amends be meaningful."

"Whatever you say... whatever you want..." Exhausted, Riven completely relaxed her muscles, letting the cold water stimulate her nerves.

Seeing her like this, Mu Bai knew there was no point in continuing the conversation.

With a flick of his right hand, the massive black stone rune blade pierced through the gap in the iron gate and fell into the water prison.

"I will come again tomorrow."

After saying that, Mu Bai ignored the other person's surprised look and walked straight out of the dungeon.

When the first rays of sunlight touched him, he truly felt the terror of the dungeon—in less than half an hour, the temperature difference between inside and outside made him shiver.

"Finished talking?" Irelia, who was guarding the dungeon entrance, asked.

"I guess so. She can come again tomorrow," Mu Bai replied. "She'll understand."

"She... is a war criminal," the girl cautiously reminded her.

She didn't know what was so special about Riven; all she knew was that she was a damn Noxian invader.

“I know. Don’t worry, I won’t let her do anything to harm the nascent land again.”

"Yes, I believe you."

Mu Bai stretched and turned his gaze to the bustling Presidium residential area.

“I’m about to leave,” he said to the girl. “Tomorrow… or maybe the day after, but I’ll be leaving within three days.”

"Hey?"

Upon hearing this, Irelia's expression was a mixture of surprise and panic.

"Is it something I did wrong? Or are you not comfortable staying here?"

"No, not at all. On the contrary, I really like the people and things here. It's just that I have some things to do right now... Don't worry, I'll be back."

"really?"

"Ah."

“Alright then…” Irelia felt a pang of disappointment, but she forced a smile. “When you come back, we’ll meditate together again.”

"Okay, I promise you." Mu Bai replied with a smile.

"Okay, go and discuss it with Miss Xingdora. I won't bother you anymore."

For some reason, Irelia felt a pang of sadness when she said those words.

I'm a little envious of Miss Stardora...

Chapter Thirty-Two: Syndra's New Concept Candy

As night fell, Mu Bai and Syndra returned to their room.

Bolton had originally prepared a single room for each of them, but Mu Bai thought that was too extravagant and that it would be better for the two of them to share a room.

Even though there's only one bed, we can still squeeze in and sleep.

"So...we're leaving here in a few days?"

"Yes, let's find an old swordsman."

"Okay, okay, I'll listen to you." Syndra nodded repeatedly, her obedient appearance endearing.

Actually, she had wanted to run away for a long time. Although the food and lodging here were good and she could buy nice clothes, Irelia's presence always made her feel uneasy.

Who knows, my house might be raided one day.